Coin machine



May 18, 1937.

K. GAMMEL COIN MACHINE Filed Aug. 7, 1935 2 sneets-sheiet 1 or ATTORNEYS May1s,.1937. v KGAMMEL 2,080,911

COIN MACHINE INVENTOR Yr/ fulmini! ATTORNEYS Patented May 18, 1937 UNE-TED STATES PATENT oFFlcE COIN MACHINE Karl Gammel, Joliet, Ill.

Application August 7, 1933, Serial No. 684,037

1o claims. (cl. 194-55) The invention relates to coin controlled machines, and more particularly to such machines wherein the coin is tested to prevent the use of improper coins, slugs, Washers and the like.

The invention further relates to a machine which has a broad eld of utility and which, while comparatively simple in operation, is capable of such accurate adjustment that only the proper coin or token can be used to operate the machine.

The invention also provides means for producing a warning signal in the event that an attempt is made to cause the machine to operate through the use of coins or tokens for which the machine is not adjusted.

In accordance with the invention, a contact member cooperates with a coin carrying member to prevent operation of the machine when an improper coin, slug, washer, or the like is inserted in the machine.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to becharacteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section similar to that shown in Figure 2, illustrating the operation of the machine;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the machine illustrated in Figure 1 as viewed from the left;

Figure 5 is a partial vertical section similar to that illustrated in Figure 3, illustrating the operation of the machine under different conditions;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a variant form of the machine;

Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line VII-VII of Figure 6, and

Figure S is a partial vertical section corresponding to Figure '7 but showing the machine.

parts in a diierent position.

1n the following description and claims various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several gures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosures of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that they show a frame I0, a carrying member or coin slide II, reciprocable in the frame I, which may be carried in a special sheath member I2 open at its upper side for insertion of a coin I3 in a suitable opening I4 in the coin slide II.

The coin slide Il may bear a representation I5 of the coin with which the machine is intended to be used, adjacent the opening I4, as illustrated in Figure l. The representation I5 of the coin indicates to the user of the machine the proper position or orientation of the coin when placed in the opening I4 in the coin slide.

An opening I6 is provided in the frame through which the coin I3 may drop when the coin-carrying member or coin slide is pushed inwardly to its extreme position in the machine. Thus if a coin is inserted in the opening I4 of the coin slide, when the latter is in the position illus- Itrated in Figure 1, and if the coin slide II is pushed into the machine as far as it will go,r the coin I3 will drop through the opening I6 into the machine. If the coin will not pass the selecting apparatus (which will be described subsequently) the coin slide may be returned to its' initial position, and a hole Il in the sheath member I2 permits the coin to be extracted from the coin-carrying member by insertion of the finger from below the sheath and pressure upon the lower face of the coin.

The selecting apparatus, which prevents successful use of improper coins, slugs, washers, and the like, `comprises a toggle I8, pivoted in the frame I0 of the machine as by screws Ill-I9; a connecting lever 20, pivoted at 2| to the toggle I8; and a contact member 22 pivoted at 23 to the connecting lever 20. Thus, movement of the toggle i8 about the axis of the pivoting screws I9 will move the connecting lever 20 which is pivoted to the toggle and through it will move the contact member 22 which is pivoted to the connecting lever. Helical springs 24-24 are attached to the frame IIJ at 25-25 and to the ends 26-26 of the toggle I8 which are on the opposite side of the pivot screws |9-I9 from the pivot 2| of the connecting lever 2G. The springs 24-24 constitute a toggle mechanism with the toggle I 8 and the connecting lever 2U, and tend to rotate the toggle I8 about the pivot screws I 9 in a clockwise direction and thus to incline the pivot 2| of the connecting lever 2l toward the point of entrance of the coin slide into the frame IB. A set screw 2'| is disposed in the frame for Contact with the endof the toggle, adjacent the pivot 2| of the connecting lever 2|), in order that the movement of the toggle I 8 by the helical springs 24-244 may be arrested at the desired point.

The connecting lever 20 comprises two legs, one leg 28 being positioned for contact with the forward end of the coin slide Il as it is pushed into the machine and the other leg 23, beingA adapted for contact with the upper surface of thev goinslide.

assigning. for the ino-ment, that. the eontaet member 22 is not included in the apparatusz it will heseenthnt when the eoinslide Il iS pushed into the machine, itsl forward end will contact with the leg 2 8 of the connecting lever 2|! and turn the latter about its pivot 2| in the toggle I8. Thereupon the leg 2 9 nearest the coin slide will be pressed upon the face of the coin slide as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5,. Further movement of the coin slide into the machine will, thereupon, turn the toggle I8 about its pivot screws Ille-I9 andthe coin slide I I will attain its. extreme innermost position in the machine with the` opening I4 of the coin slide in register with the opening I6 in the frame. A coin I3 carried in the opening I 4. in the.` coin slide may thus be inserted in the machine to control its operation.

Means is provided, however, to prevent an improper coin, slug, washer, etc., from reaching the opening I6. For purposes ofillustration, the contact4 member 22. is described as constituting this means. A Projections 3|l and 3| are provided on the Contact member adacent the pivot 23 by means of which the latter is carried by the connecting lever. 2|). A spring |2| is provided which exerts a force against'the connectinglever 20 in a countercloclgwise direction about pivot 2 I. In this manner the lever 2li is vheld in open position so that the c oin slide I Ivmay pass inwardly unobstructed until the x end of theslide strikes leg 28 o f lever 2|).` Limited counterclockwise movement of lever 20 is` provided by'leg 28 coming in' contact with the rim of hole. I6 as shown in Fig. 2. A leaf spring 32 providesI shoek absorbing means for contactmember .a 22 and prevents it from the possibility ofljumping,

should the slide I I be thrust'with 'suddenimpulse.A When the vleg 28v of the connecting lever 2|) isv engaged bythe end of the coin slide and the connecting lever isturned about its pivot 2|4 in the toggle I3, the leg 2,9 being depressed thereby, the

contact points 30 and 3| will `he brought to Ibear upon the upper face of the coin I3 in the coin slide II'. "The angular position of the contactlever 22, with respect toits pivot 23, will be determined by the elevation of twox points on the upper faceV of the coin.

The force which the end of the coin slide II exerts upon the. leg 2 3 of the connectinglever 20. and which depresses the pivot 223 of the member 22 vtoward vthecoinY I3," is sukftlcient to overcome. the notion eiY the Vinterinos t2; unen the Contattniember-.as thecontoet. points Sonnd 3 I :bear upon the upper face. ofthe coin I3, The free end- 33 ofv tiiecontaet meinber- 242.; will4 therefore be elet/tatoo;Vv

from the position illustrated in Figure 2 as the coin slide, with a coin therein, is pushed into the machine.

A plate 34 is iixed to the frame I0 beyond the free end 33 of the contact member 22 in a plane substantially at right-angles. to that of the coin slide I I. Clearly the plate 34 need not be a separate member but may be formed as a part of the frame I0 Without the exercise of invention. An opening 35 is formed in the plate 34H through which the free end 33 of the contact member 22 may pass.

rlhe location of the opening 35 in the plate 34 is such that the free end 33 of the contact member 22..will pass through it only when the contact points 30 and 3| on the contact member bear upon 'a proper coin, properly placed in the coin slide.

the operation which has already been described, if a proper coin is not properly placed or oriented in the coin slide or if an improper coin, 51.1.1.5! Whor eten.. b9 Placed. the. 90.1!! Sd-f, @he eontaot Points 3Q eno. 3|- will come. to reet higheroi lower, .Surfaces than would be.. the. with a proper. ooin, properly plaeed- The @ein Slide, inerefoe, beine pinned,l further into. the mattine one noting upon the les, .2r-.oi the Contact. Connecting. lever 1.0? Will be unable to @any the eoin or other article therein ne ,for es the opening loin. the freine. betonte the free end 3.?.- of. the

Ycontact member will be stopped by the plate 3 4,

dentl tneten improper article in the opening IA..

of. the Coin. Slide. will not` ness into the eoin eentrol part of the machine because ofthe selecting apparatus, WhiohV has been deseribed. Only e proper coin, properly placed will cause the free end 33 of the contact member to assume the required position in which it may poes through the opening 35 inthe plate 34 to permit the coin to be deposed in the machine- When the toggle I84 is turned about its pivoting screws la, abracket 46 thereon may ContactV with and activate an cperatlilgpart offthe machine. It may be desired. to. give an alarm by means of a visual or an oral signal in caseit is.

as at 36. (see Figure 4) and a movable segment.A

3'I, with the opening 35. properlyi positioned therein, may be loosely attached to the platey proper, as. at 38, being held in, position bya dowe1v39 and spring- 41|). An electrical polel 4|., with an insulated wire 42 attached theretg, may be then positioned adjacent the movable seigment 31011 the side thereof opposite. to, that edf jacent which, the free enel 3.3. of the Contact member 321sI disposed. A light, bell, or other signal (not shownjmay be placed in circuitwith the wire 42 and the circuit may be completed through a source of electromotive force to the frame of the machine where it is grounded as indicatedk at 43. With such an arrangement. it

is of course necessary to insulate the electrical against the..rnovab1 e segment .31', an eleetrieal,

connection Ywill. bel natie through the olefin-meine ber and will indicate the fact thatthe machine is being improperly operated.

Instead of using a single contact member 22, it may be desired to substitute therefore two contact members so that operation of the ma* chine will be dependent upon two distinct elevations on the embossed surface of the coin. Such an apparatus is illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8, the contact members 22a and 22h being pivoted to the connecting lever 20 in place of the single contact member 22. The contact points are illustrated as being adjustable, that of the contact member 22a being on one side of the pivot 23 and that of the contact member 22h being on the other side of the pivot. A single spring 32a serves to depress each contact point with respect to the connecting lever 2B, and accordingly the free end 33h of contact member 22h normally lies below the opening 35 in the movable segment 31 of the plate 34, whereas, the free end 33a of the contact member 22a, normally lies above the opening 35, its position being limited by a bracket 45, attached to the plate 34. A properly embossed coin oriented in the coin slide Ii presents a surface at the proper elevation to the contact point on each lever, the free ends 33a, and 33h attaining eX- actly the correct elevation as the coin slide H is pushed in. Each free end passes through the plate permitting the coin to `fall from the opening I4 in the coin slide through the opening It in the frame. An improper coin, slug, washer or the like on the coin slide will cause one or both free ends to strike the plate 3d and the machine will not operate.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a coin machine is provided which is of very simple construction yet capable of such accurate adjustment as to render it practically infallible in the automatic selection of the proper coin or token to operate the machine. This invention has a wide field of utility in connection with automatic amusement and vending machines of all types, mechanical pianos and phonographs, coin telephones, automatic turnstiles and the like.

Furthermore, the invention provides for a Warning signal to be manipulated by an attempted improper use of the machine. This machine is particularly adaptable for use in places where it is not feasible to have an attendant in the vicinity, such as, for example, public telephone booths or vending and amusement devices in isolated or other locations.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coin-controlled machine, a coin-carrying member, a toggle mechanism, a contact member mounted on said toggle mechanism, a projection adjustably secured on one end of said contact member for contacting a coin in said coin-carrying member, and a plate beyond the other end of said contact member having an opening therein through which the end of said contact member may pass.

2. In a coin-controlled machine, a frame, a coin slide in said frame, a toggle pivoted in said frame, a connecting lever pivoted to said toggle, a contact member pivoted to said connecting lever for contacting a coin in said coin slide, and

means adapted to limit the inward movement of said Contact member.

3. In a coin-controlled machine, a frame, a`

coin slide in said frame, a toggle pivoted in said frame, a connecting lever pivoted to said toggle, a vcontact member pivoted to said connecting lever for contacting a coin in said coin slide, in

combination with a spring tending to rotate 'said tacting a coin in said coin slide, in combination with a projection on said contact member for contact with said coin slide as it moves the coin into the machine, said projection being constructed and arranged to depress the Contact member pivot and bring the contact member against the coin, and a spring tending to hold the contact member away from the coin.

5. In a coin-controlled machine, a frame, a coin slide in said frame, a toggle pivoted in said frame, a connecting lever pivoted to said toggle, a contact member pivoted to said connecting lever for contacting a coin in said coin slide, in combination with a spring connecting one end of said toggle to said frame to depress said contacting lever toward said coin slide, and means for limiting the inward movement of said Contact member.

6. In a coin-controlled machine, a coin slide, a pivoted connecting lever comprising one leg for contact with the forward end of said slide as it is pushed into the machine, a second leg adapted for contact with the upper surface of said slide when said first named leg is turned about its pivot by said slide, a contact member pivoted in said second leg, a projection on one end of said contact member for contacting a coin in said coin-carrying member, said projection being brought into contact with the coin by action of said coin slide upon said connecting lever, and stopping means adjacent the opposite end of said contact member.

'7. In a coin-controlled machine, a coin-carrying member, a contact member, a projection on one end of said contact member for contacting a coin in said coin-carrying member, and a plate beyond the other end of said contact member, in combination with a movable segment in said plate having an opening therein through which the end of said contact member may pass, and an electrical connection adjacent'and operable by said movable segment upon movement thereof by the end of the contact member.

8. In a coin-controlled machine, a frame, a coin slide in said frame, a toggle pivoted in said frame, a connecting lever pivoted to said toggle, a plurality of contact members pivoted to said connecting lever for contacting a coin in said coin slide in a plurality of points, and stopping means to limit the movement of said contact members.

9. In a coin-controlled machine, a coin slide, a frame in which said coin slide operates, said frame having an opening through which a coin in said coin slide may drop, a toggle pivoted in said frame, a lever system pivoted to said toggle for contact With said slide and With a proper coin in. said slide. to move said lever system and said toggle with said slide only when a proper Coin is in said slide, andv means for limiting the inward movement of said lever system.

l0. In a coin-operated: device, a. coin-carrying member, a toggle, a connecting member xedi tosaid toggle, a contact member pivoted tosaid connecting member, a projection onA one end of` said contact memben a stop member adjacent the opposite end of said contact member,l said projection being adjusted to allow said contactmember to extend beyond saidstop member only when a coin of predetermined thickness, diameter and embossing is inserted in said coin-carrying member.

KARL GAMMEL. 

